The Mothers of Invention did have a song about the Brain Police, didn't they?
Must have referenced the Governing Body!
The stench of Amateur Bible auto-didacts!
by Terry 57 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Fernando
Russell, Rutherford and their kind certainly were/are prideful self-taught amateurs who surreptitiously advance/d clergy-laity class distinctions, ignorance, self-righteousness, legalism, moralism, Gnosticism, denominational supremacy (division) - religion and religiosity - at the expense of the "Good News".
However, I would hate for honest hearted amateurs (sheep or wheat) to conclude that they are dependent on professional middlemen (goats or weeds) to hear from God and to find and understand his intricate (unabridged gospel or "Good News") message hidden in plain sight, and woven throughout scripture. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:27)
The sheep/goat or wheat/weed distinction does not seem to run along amateur/professional, illiterate/educated, or academic credentials lines, although perceived self-sufficiency certainly can impede the message taking root in my life.
From what I can tell those who will never see, hear or understand the message are those who unrelentingly display "militant ignorance" and "malignant self-righteousness".
(Why do followers of the Watchtower religion call themselves “publishers of the Good News” whilst unfamiliar with the “Good News” according to Paul, Moses, Isaiah and Psalms?)
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Finkelstein
All the men of the WTS. including C T Russell, created their own religion of sorts because they wanted to and they could.
It was theirs to create as well theirs to expand by where they were allowed.
It really was about cultivating a semblance of power and control by these men, using the venerable power of god as a pliable means.
This open door to religious theology continues throughout the world is most countries where it is free and unrestrained to do so.
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Terry
I would hate for honest hearted amateurs (sheep or wheat) to conclude that they are dependent on professional middlemen (goats or weeds) to hear from God and to find and understand his intricate (unabridged gospel or "Good News") message hidden in plain sight, and woven throughout scripture. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:27)
Well said!
To be as clear as possible about this topic:
every Amateur in every field of investigating actual facts, data, history, truth NEEDS academic oversight, testing and counsel to AVOID ERRORS.
Christianity has components which are verifiable: archeological, paleontological, language, grammar, science of "meaning", logic, etc. WHICH REQUIRE DISICPLINE outside your self.
Does anybody think the Watchtower Society's use of Greek is sound and logical? Or, has the self-taught amateur created mere HACK NOVELTY in its doctrine through MISUNDERSTANDING the language?
A good Professor and a semester test might have done wonders!
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hamsterbait
Any subject that can be studied at college uses BOOKS.
Anybody can study those same books memorise the information, learn critical thinking and know as much as any other student who took the course.
If Mr Anybody does this on his own, because he cannot afford to go to college, and does not take his exams, he will still have that knowledge. If he doesnt he will start talking crap at some point.
I accept Terrys points on Russel and others - they were manipulating cherry picked quotes for their own ends. Mr Anybody could spot this.
Anybody can buy a textbook and learn it all. A diploma only confirms that you know your stuff and how to use it.
Einstein's teachers said he would never amount to anything. Whilst he worked as a little clerk at the patents office his AUDIDACTICISM lead to one of the greatest scientific theories since Newton. But of course, since he was largely self taught, it is amazing that anybody paid the least bit of attention to his hobbyist amateur physics....
HB
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Finkelstein
Christianity has components which are verifiable: archaeological, paleontological, language, grammar, science of "meaning", logic, etc. WHICH REQUIRE DISCIPLINE outside yourself.
Good point Terry
If you were to look back at C Russell's And J Rutherford's acquired educational background, you would see it particularly thin and narrow,
particular upon Russell. From their own personal viewpoint they didn't need extra curricular training, all they needed was god's holy spirit which
they said they had.
A matter of fact they were so brazenly arrogant and wanting to create support around themselves, they stated that god had specifically chosen them
because they were teaching truer bible interpretations among the many other religious institutions.
Unfortunately they weren't, the WTS. Truth was far away from being the truth,
a occurrence most likely caused by the organization's aggressive literature proliferation.
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prologos
hamsterbait. right on. it might be even shown that seminal advances in any field were achieved by those that were able to free themselfs or were free of the ingrained teachings, doctrines of the establishment, who after all are mostly interested to maintain the status quo.
modern example: how IBM was leapfrogged by geniusses working in their garages, well lit basements.
it is happening here for the WT BtS
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Terry
seminal advances in any field were achieved by those that were able to free themselfs or were free of the ingrained teachings, doctrines of the establishment, who after all are mostly interested to maintain the status quo.
modern example: how IBM was leapfrogged by geniusses working in their garages, well lit basements.
There is a natural "tension" which exists between knowledge and ignorance.
Those who feel they possess knowledge also feel they cannot "learn" from those who are ignorant.
But, those who are ignorant also feel they can simply avoid listening and go their own way.
When it comes to religion, belief, faith, superstition, tradition and other numinous subjects--there is a FRAMEWORK without a clear picture. Where there IS a picture is is subjected to constant interpretation.
Can we say, "there is no THERE there?"
If, for example, young kids ALWAYS listened to the experiences of their Parents they would have a wider field of vision.
They DON'T!
So, each new generation is mostly condemned to make the same errors and mistakes over and over and over.
Facts are not a matter of one's personal taste!
If we listen to only the music we already like-- our tastes do not improve
WE DON'T LISTEN TO EACH OTHER unless we are humble students open to the most fundamental of all principles:
YOU CANNOT LEARN UNLESS YOU ARE FIRST WILLING TO BE WRONG